Controller



July 20,1926. 1,593,389

'- A. T. CROCKER CONTROLLER Filed sept`' 25 ,A 1924 Inventor- ArthQr* T. Crocker nIt'Le Attoney Patented July 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE. i

ARTHUR T. CROCKER, OF SCHENECTADY, NEVI YORK, ASSIGNOR TO `(`:r1lI\TEIEtAL ELEG- TRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0]? NEW YORK. i

CONTROLLER.

Application filed September 23, 1924. Serial No. 739,444.

My invention is directed to improvements in controllers and in particular to means whereby the initial return movement of a controller operating means toward the oil or neutral position will open the energizing circuit of an electro-responsive circuit closing device so that the breaking of the circuit controlled by the controller will not occur at the main controller contacts, thus relieving these contacts of the bad eects of burning, arcing, etc. caused by the interruption of the main circuit governed by the controller.

One of theobjects ofthe invention is the provision of a simple, effective and reliable controller arrangement of the character indicated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved arrangement of the `character indicated which shall be adapted foruse with `the ordinary drum controller without the necessity for material changesto adaptthe controller to employ the protective features above indicated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of animproved arrangement of the character indicated in which the contacts controlled by the auxiliary switch, which controls the interruption of the main circuit governed by the controller so as to prevent the. interruption ofy the main circuit at the controller main contacts, may be xed in position and not be required to rotate with the `controller shaft, thereby avoiding the troubles due to twisting of4 conductors, sparking at the contacts due to wear, and other troubles as will be understood by those skilled in the art.`

These and othery objects as lwill be either explained fully hereinafter or as will bey apparent tov those slrilledin the art, are attained in the controller and the operating means therefor shown in the accompanying drawing,iin which Fig. 1 is a plan view of i a controller handle or operating member, controller operating element and auxiliary switchin accordance with the invention,.the cover of the auxiliary switch being removed and a portion of the controller handle bei-ngV broken away for the purpose of explaining the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of thef arrangement of Fig. 1 with certainof the `parts in `section and with a portion of lthe controller handle broken away 5 Fig. 3 is a section of the arrangement of Figi 2 along the section lines 3 3; Fig. 4 is a detail for the purpose of explaining the manner in which the auxiliary switchfvis moved; and Fig. 5 is a detail of the arrangement whereby the auxiliary switch is held in the` open position when the controller handle is in the voff position.

Referring to the drawing, the `'controller handle, operating lmeans and auxiliary switch form a unitary structure in which Athe controller operating member ork handle 10 is pivotally mounted at 11 on the operatingy element 12 for the controller shaft 13. The handle 10 is of a channel shape, as shown, and disposed between the flanges of this channel-shaped handle there `is provided a wedge 14 which `is operatively connected with the auxiliary switchcontact 15. LThe wedge 14 is carried by the rotatable operating ,element 12 and this wedge cooperates y with the wedge block 16 which is connected to the roller race 17 by means of the operating rods 18 and 19. `These operating ro'dsare also carried by the rotatable operating element 12 and are arranged to be reciprocated up and down longitudinally of the controller shaft `13 iny response to the movement of the wedge 14.- r'lhe auxiliary switch contact `15. is pivotally mounted to and carried -by the support 20 which may be secured to the head of the controller. This support 2O will remain stationary throughout the operation of the lcontroller handle `10. The auxiliary switch contact 15 is carried by the i pivotally mounted member 21 which is pivotedat 22 Vin the support 20, and Lwhich is formed atone end in the shape `of a strap which embraces the controller shaft 13. The

. rollers 23 and 24 are carried by the arms of athis strap and these rollers cooperate with the race 17. The switch contact member 21 is biased to the position indicated in Fig. 2, that in which lthe contact member 15 makes engagement with the stationary contacts 25 and 26, by'means ofthe spring 27 operating lthrough lthe strap 28 which engages the member 2l. As thus constructed` withv the `parts in.A their` respective.V positions shown in.y Figures 1, 2 and 3they operation of the invention is as follows: y

The controllerhandle 10 is indicated in an operative position of the controller', lnamely `-one in which the main circuit controlled by the controller 'is closed and the controller and ,arranged and y is in one of its various speed regulating positions. 1f the controller handle is returned to the off-position (counterclockwise Fig. 1) the controller handle will make an initial rotation through a limited distance without moving the operating element 12 to rotate the controller shaft. This limited rotation of the controller handle will be about the pivot 11, and one of the 'flanges of the controller handle will come into engagement with the wedge 141 and move the same from left to right (Fig. 3) to the position indicated in Fig. 4. This initial movement of the controller handle and the resulting movement of the wedge lll will cause the rods 18 and 19 to be raised and thus raise the roller race 17 along the controller shaft 13. The elevation of the roller race 17 will consequently raise the contact member 21 about its pivot 22 against the action of the spring 27 and thus open the control circuit through the auxiliary switch 15. This auxiliary switch will deenergize the. winding circ-uit of an electro-responsive circuit controlling device (not shown) so that the main circuit through the main contacts (not shown) of the controller will be opened at the contacts of the electro-responsive device rather than at the contacts of the controller. A continuation of the movement of the controller handle toward the off-position will merely effect the return of the controller contact segment cylinder to the off position, the auxw iliary switch member 15 remaining in the open position during this movement. In order to return the controller to a circuit closing position, the controller handle 10 will be moved clockwise and the initial movement of the controller handle will shift the wedge block 14 toward the left (Fig. 1l) so that the wedge 16 will drop into the depression in the wedge block 14:. The roller race 17 will be thus permitted to return to the position indicated in Figures 2 and 3 and the switch member 21 will be returned to the position shown in Figure 2, thus making a circuit through the auxiliary switch contacts 25 and 26 and energizing the electro-responsive circuit controller device to close the main circuit through the controller.

It will be observed that the arrangement whereby an initial return movement of the controller handle from an operative position to the ofl`-position effects the opening of the main circuit controlled vby the controller at a point remote from the controller contacts is effected by -means of a comparatively simple, effective and reliable, arrangement which forms a unitary structure adaptable to the standard drum controller which is wellknown to those skilled in the art. It will also be observed that the auxiliary switch member 21 and the contacts 25 and 2G are not required to rotate with the controller handle, thereby simplifying the problem of conducting the current to these auxiliary contacts. ln other words, the auxiliary contacts 25 and 26 may be mounted in an enclosure 29 which may be secured in any suitable manner to the casing of the controller and remain fixed with respect to the rotating elements of the controller.

By reference to F ig, 2 and Fig. 5, it will be seen that the catch 30 on the switch member 21 is adapted to be engaged by the catch 31 on the operating member 12 when the op# erating element has returned the controller shaft to the off position, thus insuring that the auxiliary switch cont-acts will be held in the open position until the controller handle has been moved to the first operative position.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the prin* ciple of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which l now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I Vdesire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative., and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In combination,` operating mechanism for the shaft of a controller and a fixed auxiliary switch, comprising a handle for rotating the controller shaft, said handle mounted for an initial limited movement prior to the rotation of the shaft, an operating lever for the auxiliary switch which is fixed with respect to the rotation of the controller shaft, said lever having a portion which embraces the controller shaft, an intermediate member mounted for rotation with the controller shaft and for linear motion parallel to said shaft, and `coopera-ting at one end with said handle and at the other end with said shafty embracing portion of the lever so that the initial movement of the handle imparts linear motion to the intermediate members, moves the lever and operates the auxiliary switch.

2. Mechanism attachable to a controller for operating the shaft therefor, said mechanism comprising a fixed member attachable to the casing of the cont-roller and surrounding the shaft thereof, a rotatable member supported upon said fixed member and engaging the. controller shaft to cause the same to rotate therewith, a handle mounted upon said rotatable member for rotating it, a switch carried by said fixed member, means carried by said rotatable member for operating said switch, said means being operated by the initial motion of sav-id handle.

3. Mechanism attachable to a controller for operating the shaft thereof, said mechanism comprising a fixed member attachable to the casing of the cont-roller around the shaft thereof, said fixed member carrying a switch and an operating lever therefor which extends beside the controller shaft, a rotatable member supported upon said fixed member and engaging the controller shaft to cause the same to rotate therewith, a handle mounted on said rotatable member for limited initial rotation in each direction withoutrotating the rotatable member, and for thereafter rotating the rotatable member, and means mounted upon said rotatable member for motion longitudinally of the controller shaft and operable by the initial rotation of said handle, said means engaging the switch operating lever to actuate the same.

4. In combination, operating mechanism for the shaft of a controller and anlauxiliary switch, comprising an element arranged to be connected tothe controller shaft for rotating the same, a handle for rotating the said element, the said handle being mounted on the said element for an initial limited rotation with respect to the element prior to rotating the element, a wedge carried by the said element and arranged to be moved by said handle during the initial limited rotation of' the handle, means carried by said element and arranged to be moved longitudinally of the controller shaft by the said wedge, and an auxiliary switch operated by the said means.

5. In combination, operating mechanism for the shaft of a controller and an auxiliary switch, comprising an element arranged to be connected to the controller shaft for rotating the same, a handle for rotating the said element, the said handle being mounted on the said element for an initial limited rotation with respect to the element prior to rotating the element, a wedge carried by the said element and arranged to be moved by said handle during the initial limited rotation of the handle, means carried by said element and arranged to be movedlongitudinally of the controller shaft by the said wedge, a pivotally mounted auxiliary switch member having a fixed pivot point and connected to be operated about its pivot by the said means, and stationary contacts con` trolled by the switch member.

6. In combination, operating mechanism for the shaft of a controller and an auxiliary switch, comprising an element arranged to be connected to the controller shaft for rotating the same, ya handle for rotating the said element, the said handle being mounted on the said element for an initial limited rotation with respect to the element prior to rotating the element, a wedge carried by the said element, a wedge block carried by the said element and arranged to be shifted by the said handle to operate the said wedge during the said initial limited rotation of the handle, means carried by the said element and connected to the said wedge to be moved longitudinally of the controller shaft, and a pivotally mounted auxiliary switch having a fixed pivot and arranged to be moved about its pivot by the said means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 22nd day of September, 1924;.

ARTHUR T. n CROCKER. 

